THE GROCERY PRICE INDEX

How much did chicken cost in 1991?

Chicken averaged $0.88 per lb in 1991 — about $2.17 in 2026 dollars.

Chicken price in 1991 Monthly average price (USD per lb) · 1991
$0.85$0.86$0.87$0.88$0.89$0.90$0.91JanMarMayJulAugOctDecJan 1991$0.89Feb 1991$0.90Dec 1991$0.86basketreport.com

12 monthly observations · Source: BLS series APU0000706111.

In 1991, chicken averaged $0.88 per lb at the U.S. city average, across all twelve months, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data. The monthly price ranged from $0.86 in November to $0.90 in February. Over the year it fell from $0.89 in January to $0.86 in December, a 2.5% decline.

Adjusted for inflation, $0.88 in 1991 is worth about $2.17 in 2026 dollars. Today chicken averages $2.04 per lb, so in real terms it is 6% cheaper than it was in 1991. In plain (unadjusted) dollars the price is up 131% versus the 1991 average.

1991 monthly prices

MonthPriceMoM
January $0.89 ▲ 3.3%
February $0.90 ▲ 1.9%
March $0.90 ▼ 0.4%
April $0.89 ▼ 1.6%
May $0.88 ▼ 0.2%
June $0.88 ▼ 0.6%
July $0.89 ▲ 1.1%
August $0.87 ▼ 2.1%
September $0.87 ▲ 0.6%
October $0.88 ▲ 0.5%
November $0.86 ▼ 2.4%
December $0.86 ▲ 0.8%
1991 average$0.88

FAQ

What was the average price of chicken in 1991?

Chicken averaged $0.88 per lb in 1991, based on 12 months of BLS average price data.

How much is $0.88 of 1991 chicken worth today?

Adjusted for inflation with the CPI-U, $0.88 in 1991 is about $2.17 in 2026 dollars.

How does the 1991 price of chicken compare to now?

Chicken now averages $2.04 per lb, up 131% from the 1991 average of $0.88.

Cite this

Plain text
Basket Report. "Chicken price in 1991 (U.S. average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved June 26, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/chicken/1991/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000706111.
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<a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/chicken/1991/">Chicken price in 1991 (U.S. average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000706111; retrieved June 26, 2026)
APA
Basket Report. (2026). Chicken price in 1991 (U.S. average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/chicken/1991/